Fastener release means for raceways



Aug. 3l, 1954 E. HoweY 2,687,826

x FASTENER RELEASE MEANS Foa EAcEwAYs Filed neg. 1. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ernest Hope Aug. 31, 1954` E. HOPE l FASTENER RELEASE MEANS FOR RACEWAYS ud 2 ,rem u ww m HHH .w ewA n wm.. m ,h s I@ Filed Dec. 1, 1951 Aug. 31, 1954 E HQPE 2,687,826

FASTENER RELEASE MEANS FOR CEWYS Filed Deo. l, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I nvenor E' 1 nest H3/oe Patented Aug. 31, 1954 FASTENER RELEASE MEANS Fon RAcEWAYs -Ernest Hope, Leicester, England, assignor to United :Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 1, 1951, SerialNoQZQAZS Claims priority, application Great Britain February 28, `1951 4 Claims.

This invention `relates to fastener inserting machines` and more particularly to the provision oft` improvements intheir raceways when adapted to supplyhollow `barreled `fasteners such as eyeletsto the` inserting instrumentalities.

. `Machinesforinserting-eyelets or other tubular fastenersnormallyemploy a pair of cooperative upsettingz-toolsand araceway `for delivering fasteners .one` at :a timeto voneof those tools. As the deliveryend ofthe ,raceway is swung` in order to position the endrnost fastener therein for transfer to said one tool the frequent practice is to have :alpin project from that tool to impale the fastener and Aguideit to the upsetting surface, the raceway then receding to clear the tools for their clenching action which immediately follows. The usual means provided at the delivery end of a `.racevvay `for `retaining the fasteners while `stored in line therein, as well as for per-` mitting their individual zrelease therefrom on being impaled, :comprises a pivotally mounted spring-backedlever the fastener detaining end of which is adapted `to engagethe outside of `the barrelzof the endmost fastener.

`It `will be vapparent `from the above brief description that removal of a fastener from the conventional raceway delivery end when the latteraswings `to one side isaccompanied by the pinmpaled `fastener exerting a force to pivot the retaining `lever `against; resistance of its spring. This `force maybe of nomoment when a machine isn-operating :slowly or the fasteners :are of relatively ;large diameter, but when higher operating speeds `and/ or `rather small diameter barrels are involved which necessitate small diameter pins,`

theforce tends to bend the latter and they frequently break. This unsatisfactory condition, prevalent especially when operating on electrical components, is aggravated by the bent, Worn, or vibrant impalingpin being subjected, as it is, to axial :pressure `when it no longer centrally engages the other upsetting tool.

view of the `conditions noted it is an object ofy this invention to provide in a fastener insertt ing machine, a raceway having improved fastener retaining means effective satisfactorily to enable transfer to the operating tools of even `the small diameter `fasteners Without danger of impairing the raceway or their `means of transfer to `said tools.

in accordance with this object a feature of the invention `residesin providing, at the delivery end of a pivotal raceway, endmost fastener supporting means arranged and adapted to `be yieldingly depressed during fastener impaling by a pin, means for swinging the-delivery end of said raceway after said impaling, and fastener `retaining means on the racewayarrangedand adapted to permit relative passageof the pin `with the impaled fastener, said retaining means oifering little or no resistance to such passage.

The above and other features will `become more clear` from the detaileddescription which follows of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, pertinent portionsof an eyeleting machine being selected for this purpose by way of example and not of limitation. `Inthe accompanying drawings` of theillustrative eyeletingmachine,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation. partly insection, of the `head portion and raceway mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged `view `of novel eyelet `retaining-releasing.meansmounted on the delivery end of the raceway seenlinFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of parts shown in lFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation lof yparts `shown in Fig. 2, as viewed from `the right;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in a laterstage in theoperati-on .of the illustrative machine; t

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of parts shown in Fig. 5, as viewed from the right;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 5 but showing 'the parts in a still .later stageof the operation of the machine;

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the parts .in perspective constituting the lower end of the improved raceway assemblage;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the plane indicated by A--A in Fig. 8, assuming the parts assembled; and

Fig. 10 is a view, partly in section,\.of the delivery end of the raceway and associated parts in their initial positions, taken on a vertical plane running along the centerofthe raceway passage and as viewed looking in the direction of the arrows X-X of Fig. 4.

The illustrative machine may be floor or bench supported, an appropriate frame (not (shown) being provided to support amachine head generally designated I0 (Fig. 1) andra fixed lower die l2. The latter has acentral pilot projection Il. A suitable source of power such as an electric motor is connected by a belt I4 to drive a pulley IE continuously, the pulley being arranged to rotate a drive shaft I8 mounted in the head I0 through appropriate `one-revolution clutch mechanism under the control of an operator. Such `mechanism forms no part of the present invention and accordingly is omitted from the drawings.

The head I0 comprisesan arm 20 by which a raceway 22 is pivotally supported bya pin 23, and

a pair of vertically alined bosses 24, 26 for reciprocably mounting a plunger 28. The lower end of the plunger 28 carries an upsetting or upper die 38 cooperatively related to the fixed lower die l2. For operating the plunger 28 a crank 32 is secured to one end of the shaft |8 and has pivotal connection in the form of a pin 34 with a link 36, the latter being pivotally connected to a collar 38 aixed to the plunger 28.

For impaling eyelets one at a time when they are supplied in line by the raceway 22, the die 30 carries a pin 48, sometimes known as a nipple pin, the lower end of which is slightly tapered and of sufficiently small diameter to be received by the size of eyelet barrel to be installed. .An upper portion 42 of the pin 48 is bifurcated and enlarged so as to bear frictionally on the wall of a bore 44 formed in the plunger 28. A slot 46 in the plunger slidably receives a stationary block 48, an inner end of which projects into the bore 44 thereby limiting upward movement of the pin 48 when the plunger 28 is being raised, as will hereinafter be described.

In conventional manner a hopper 58 mounted on the raceway 22 serves as a reservoir for the fasteners to be inserted, `rotation of fastener agitating means inthe hopper being effected by a belt and pulley arrangement 52, 54 to keep the raceway well supplied with eyelets represented by the single eyelet E (Figs. 2, 5 and 7). The raceway comprises curved thin plates 56, 58 arranged to support the eyelets by their flanges, the eyelet barrels being suspended in line in a raceway 68 between the plates. A web 62 (Fig. 1) of the raceway is spaced from the plates so as to allow passage of the heads of eyelets, yet prevent them from escaping their channel.

Mechanism for swinging the raceway 22 comprises a link 64 pivotally connected to the raceway and to a second link 66 having pivotal connection with a collar 6l secured to the plunger 28. The link 64 is provided with a projection 68 for a purpose hereinafter explained, and, when the machine is in normal inoperative condition as shown in Fig. 1, aftension spring 18 extending between the head |8 and the raceway 22 is effective yieldingly to hold a face 12 of the latter in abutting relation to an adjustable stop 14 eX- tending from the head.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 8 and 1|) the novel eyelet retaining-releasing means are mounted on the lower end of the raceway 22 and comprise an adaptor block 16 secured by a screw 18 to a raceway boss 88. Afxed by screws threaded into the adaptor block '|6 are a pair of retaining bars 82, 84v (Fig. 8) and a depressible leaf spring 86. End portions 88, 98 respectivelyof the bars 82, 84 project inwardly of the raceway and are spaced lapart to allow relative sidewise movement of the pin 48. Upright rear edges 82, 94 of the end portions 88, 98 respectively, normally engage a head ange 96 of the endmost raceway eyelet having a barrel 98. Integral with the leaf spring 86 is a pair of spaced blocks |88, |82 provided with upstanding walls |8l, |83 respectively, and these walls are provided with opposed grooves |84, |86

each having a lower face elevated above the spring 86 a distance sufficient to position said faceflush with thev upper face of the raceway plates 56, 58 respectively when spring 86 is in its elevated position, whereby the grooves |84, |88 are adapted to receive the head flange 96 when the endmost eyelet is cooperatively-supported by the blocks |88, |82. When the spring 86 is in its upper or normal position (Figs. 2 and 10), projecting surfaces |88, ||8 of the blocks abut under-surfaces of the end portions 88, 88 respectively. When in their depressed positions (Fig. 5) as hereinafter described, the blocks |88, |82 respectively have upright rear edges |2, ||4 adapted to engage, and thereby retain in the raceway, an eyelet next to become endmost.`

In operating the machine the parts at the beginning of a cycle have the relative positions shown in Fig. 1, the stop '|4 having been adjusted, as appropriate to the size of eyelets in the hopper 58, to coaxially aline the endmost eyelet (when its ange 96, resting on the lower faces of grooves |84, |86, is engaged by the edges 92, 94, the ends of which edges are in contact with faces |88, ||8, as seen in Fig. 10) with the pin 48 and the pilot projection The workpiece to be eyeleted having been positioned with a perforation receiving the projection the clutch mechanism is actuated to permit one revolution of the shaft |8 and accordingly one upsetting and return stroke of the plunger 28. The link 64 is thereby rst caused to be moved counterclockwise about its pivotal connection with the raceway (as seen in Fig. 1) until the projection 68 engages the web 62. In this initial interval the raceway 22 does not move, and the retaining means attached thereto maintain the endmost eyelet barrel 98 alined with the downwardly moving pin 48 for impaling action by the latter. Further downward movement of the plunger 28 causes the projection 68 to bear on the web 62 so as to swing the raceway 22 and eyelet retaining means clockwise (as seen in Fig. 1) about the pin 23, away from the path of the upsetting die 38, and against the resistance of the tension spring 18. It is important to note that as the die 38 initially descends, the tapered pin 48, by reason of its frictional engagement with the bore 44, is thrust through the endmost eyelet barrel 88 before the raceway delivery end and retaining means is made to recede, the relative positions of the raceway and retaining means and their alinement with the axis of the pin 48 being as shown in Figs, 2, 4 and 18. The still descending pin 48, due toits frictional engagement with the inside of the barrel 98, overcomes the upward thrust of the spring 86 and, acting through the eyelet flange 96, which pushes down upon the bottom faces of the grooves |84, |86, depresses the blocks |88, |82 simultaneously and relatively to the raceway 22 (Figs. 5 and 6). It will be recognized that the spring 86 is strong enough to support the eyelet against gravity and to afford resistance adequate to permit the pin 48 to be thrust into the eyelet sufciently tight to prevent their separation after the raceway recedes; but the spring 86 is not strong enough to thrust the pin 48 upwardly in the bore 44. Consequentially continued downward movement of the pin 48 displaces the spring 86 and kblock portions |88, |82, causing the rear edges ||2, ||4 to be positioned in the path of the next-to-become-endmost eyelet, thus forming an abutment against which opposite peripheral portions on the flange of said eyelet will bear to prevent the said eyelet from passing down and out of the raceway.

With the blocks |88, |82 depressed relatively to the portions 88, 88 pivotal movement of the raceway and retaining means commences, the bars 82, 84 receding from a relationship slightly above the endmost eyelet flange 96. The only resistance offered to the removal of the endmost eyelet from the raceway, which resistance is exerted transversely of the pin 48, is due to the small amount of friction developed between the eyelet flange V96 and the surfaces on Hwhich it rides,A

namely the lower portions of the grooves |04, |06 and the surfaces |08, ||0. Consequently the sidewise bending force on the pin 40 is only a fraction (perhaps about one tenth) of the upward force of the blocks |00, |02 on the eyelet being transferred for upsetting by the dies 30 and l2. In contrast with conventional means provided at the delivery ends of raceways, no pressure by the portions 88, 90 restrains release of the endmost eyelet from the raceway 22 when the latter is swung sidewise. Continued descent of the die 30 occurs after the pin 40 is clear of the raceway (Fig. 7) causing said pin to engage the pilot projection endwise. 'I'he pin 40 thereupon relatively slides upwardly in the bore 44, the die 30 then engaging the impaled eyelet and thrusting it into the hole in the workpiece for upsetting. When the die 30 is raised from the cooperative lower die |2 the upper portion 42 of thepin 40 is carried upward until its movement is limited by engagement with the block 48. Thus, at the end of the cycle the pin 40 again projects from the die 30 and the raceway 22 will have swung back to initial position under the influence of the spring 10, but an eyelet will not as yet be impaled.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a fastener inserting machine of the type having a pair of cooperative upsetting tools one of which is provided with fastener impaling means, a raceway having its delivery end movable toward and from the operative path of said one upsetting tool, fastener retaining means xedly mounted on said delivery end, and fastener release means yieldingly mounted on said delivery end, portions of said retaining means and said release means respectively being spaced to permit relative movement of said impaling means and said retaining and release means between said spaced portions with an impaled fastener, and said release means being actuable by the thrust of the fastener and said impaling means during said relative movement.

2. In an eyeleting machine of the type having a pair of cooperative upsetting tools one of which is provided with eyelet impaling means, a raceway having its delivery end movable toward and from the operative path of said one upsetting tool, eyelet retaining members fixedly mounted on said delivery end,: eyelet release means normally cooperatively related to said members for supporting the endmost eyelet in an elevated position wherein the members engage the supported eyelet to retain it in the path of said impaling means, and mechanism for operating the impaling means before said delivery end recedes from the vicinity of said operative path, said impaling means being effective to iinpale the endmost eyelet and free it from said retaining members by relatively depressingv said release means.

3. In an eyeleting machine of the type having a pivotal raceway from which eyelets in line are supplied one at a time to the upsetting action of one of a pair of cooperative upsetting dies, eyelet .impaling means telescopically related to said one die and arranged and adapted initially to be thrust downward into frictional engagement with the barrel of eyelets and then to exert a depressing force upon said eyelet, a yieldingly depressible member on the raceway disposed normally to slidably support said endmost eyelet by contact with its head, means secured to the delivery end of the raceway and adapted to engage the head of said endmost eyelet when supported by the member in non-depressed condition whereby the line of eyelets is retained, and mechanism for swinging said raceway sidewise after said member has been depressed by the operation of said impaling means,

an upper portion of said depressibl-e member,`

simultaneously with said depression, being engageable with the eyelet next to become endmost to detain it in the raceway.

4. A raceway for delivering eyelets one at a time comprising retaining bars fixedly spaced on the raceway delivery end to engage opposite sides of the head of an endmost eyelet, and a yieldingly depressible release member mounted on the raceway delivery end, said member having grooved end portions adapted to receive and support the head of the endmost eyelet prior to and during its transfer from.Y the raceway, said end portions normally and respectively abutting the retaining bars to enable the bars to retain the eyelets in the raceway but said end portions being depressible away from said bars whereupon the bars no longer engage with the endmost eyelet, edges of said member above said end portions being engageable with the eyelet next to become endmost when said member is depressed whereby only said endmost eyelet is released.

No references cited.

the endmost eyelet of said line of 

